Even while the coronavirus-related death toll in Italy rose overnight to 15,362, Italian authorities are reporting the first drop in ICU bed use since the outbreak began.
Per the Associated Press, civil protection chief Angelo Borrelli said the dip in ICU saturation was “important news because it allows our hospitals to breathe.”
Italy has been particularly hard-hit by the outbreak.
According to the Washington Post, on March 21, it experienced its highest daily increase with 6,557 new infections. Hospitals in the northern part of the country were completely overwhelmed, and critical medical supplies in short supply.
Per Reuters, the new figures are giving the beleaguered Italians hope that the nation-wide lockdown, begun in mid-March, is starting to slow the virus’ spread. The number of people in intensive care dipped from 4,068 to 3,994.
